SON Faculty and Staff Publish ‘Wellness Collaborative’ Paper
A paper written jointly by Stony Brook University School of Nursing (SON) faculty and staff was published in the June 2026 issue of the Building Healthy Academic Communities Journal.
The educational breif, titled “Creating a Culture of Wellness in Nursing Education: An Evidence-Based Approach,” was penned by Maria Milazzo, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, director of the Global Nursing Innovation and Health Equity Initiative; Clinical Associate Professor Mary Ellen LaSala, PhD, RN; Senior Staff Assistant Amy Prokop; and PhD Program Director Sylvia Wood, HD, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC AOCNP®.
In detail, the paper describes the development and implementation of the SON’s Wellness Collaborative, a comprehensive wellness initiative grounded in critical caring theory and the Building Healthy Academic Communities (BHAC) Toolkit.
The Wellness Collaborative aims to foster a culture of health and resilience, aligning wellness strategies with institutional values and the BHAC framework’s eight dimensions of wellness. Using the BHAC Toolkit, the Wellness Collaborative conducted a needs assessment, implemented targeted interventions, and integrated evaluation tools to ensure data-informed decision-making.
Team-building activities were introduced through the Wellness Collaborative, seeking to dismantle silos and foster communication among faculty, staff, and students. Activities were implemented across “multiple dimensions of well-being” and offered both virtually and in person, ensuring accessibility for all community members.
According to the paper, “postactivity evaluations were essential to gather meaningful feedback,” and the average event rating was 4.5 out of 5. Building on this early success, “plans are underway to expand programming by incorporating environmental and financial wellness as key dimensions, allowing for a more holistic approach.”
